Light-signal apparatus.



' G. DALEN.

LIGHT SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.4, 1910.

Patented Mal'. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVEH T08 WITNESSES: wf/M Q" 6m WWW] G. DALN.

LIGHT SIGNAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION TILED JANA, 1910. 952,420l Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTWMEY- [UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE. f

GSTAF DALN, 0F STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

. LIGHT-SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

Application tiled January 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,316.

device or valve, which is inserted in a conduit leading gas to a gas burner having a ilot flame, is opened and closed at certain 1ntervals of time, being'actuated on the one hand by the pressure 1n a casing closed by a diaphragm or the like, and on the other hand by a spring or a magnet tending to hold the device or valve closed against the action of the gas pressureon the diaphragm. Apparatus of this type Works in such manner that when the pressure of the gas against a diaphragm closmg the casing containing the gas (and in which casing the controlling device or valve in question is inclosed and from which casing the gas conduit leading to the burner extends). has reached a point at which it exerts suflicient force to overcome the strength of a spring or magnetacting upon a controlling device or valve to open the same, the said ,device or valve is opened so that gas is permitted to flow out through the said condu1t to the burner and the flame is lighted. Thereafter as soon as the pressure in the casing has again diminished,

owing to the escape of gas through said conduit, the controllmg device or valve is again closed and the burner flame is extinguished.

The object of the present invention is to produce such light signa-ls or so called flashes at required different intervals of time so that two or more flashes having short intervals between themselves are produced and after a longer interval the same or another number of flashes are produced with short intervals between them. For this purpose according to this inventionany one of the movable parts of the apparatus is connected with a controlling device or valve in the conduit supplying gas to the casing or in an eXtra gas supply conduit, and causes the opening of said device or valve a desirable number of times in' succession, whereby an extra quantity of gas is supplied to the casing which at each time causes the opening of the burner controlling device or valve at a shorter interval of t-ilne. than when no extra gas supply is provided.

In order to illustrate the invention reference'will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show as an example apparatus according to-.this invention adapted to alight signal'apparatus of 4previously known construction and in lwhich the .valve controlling the burner conduit is operated by a magnet.

Figure l' is a vertical section of one form of the apparatus; Fig. 2 i-s a plan; Fig. 3

illustrates a detail; and Fig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly1 in section showing a modified construction of apparatus embodying my invention.

1 indicates a casing closed by adiaphragm 2 which is provided with an eye 3 engaged by the end of a bar 5 that is mounted to turn 011 a stud 4 and is acted upon by a spring 6. The bar 5 extends through a block 8 se cured to avalve plate 7 which is arranged to rock on knife edges 9 in a known manner and the end of which is located above'the valve body 10 from which the conduit 1l leading to the burner in quest-ion extends. vA spring 12 tends to move the valve in an opposite direction to the. movement caused by the pressure of the gas onthe diaphragm v2 which gas enters the casing through the conduit 13. The valve body 1() is made of soft ironv and constitutes one pole of a permanent magnet 14 to which itis fixed. y

When the pressure in the casing 1 reaches such an amount that it overcomes the pressure of the spring 12 and the magnet at.- traction between the parts 10 and 7, the part 7 is suddenly pulled away from the part 10 and gas escapes from the casing 1 through the conduit 11 to the burner so that the flame is lighted by the pilot flame. Then the pressure owing to the escape of gas from the casing diminishes so as to balance the pressure of the spring 12 on the valve plate 7 the magnet again attracts the valve plate and the spring 12 bears thereon so that the gas escape ceases and the flame is extinguished.

By means of the apparatus described the flameV is lighted and extinguished at determined intervals of time and thus regularly repeated` light signals are obtained.

yIn order to obtain light signals consisting of series of flashes repeated at certain intervals of time and having shorter intervals between the flashes in each series than between the series of ashes, the valve plate 7 is according to this invention, connected with a valve 15 controlling an extra s supply conduit 13*` in such a manner t at the valve plate 7 when bein closed opens the valve 15 or keeps it close accordingto the circumstances. If it opens the valve 15 gas is sup lied to the caslng 1 simultaneously" throug the supply conduits 13 and 13.

10 which results in the pressure augmenting the drawings, particularly Fig. 3. VAt theA same end portion slightly nearer to its end the frame 17 is fulcrumed upon the points 25 or edges 18 'projecting downwardly from a block 20 supported upon a post or stud 19. The opposite end of the frame 17 carries two pawls 21 which Aengage a ratchet wheelv 23 which is mounted on the shaft 24 journaled in a bracket 22 in the casing 1 and on which shaft a` cam disk 25y is secured. Bearing l against this cam disk,by means of a pin 26 -or the like, is the valveplate 15 which is mounted to rock on .knife edges 27 in the l same manner as the valve plate 7 and is f" pressed toward the seat of the valve 28 by a #spring 29. The valve seat 28 communicates with an extra supply conduit 13a. The apparatus works in the following 40 manner. When the valve 7 is opened 'and closed the pawls 21 engage the ratchet wheel 23 and turn it simultaneouslywith the cam disk 25. If a raised art of this disk occuf pies such a osition 1n relation to the pin 26 that it strlkes the pin 26, the valve plate 15 4will be llifted from the `seat 28 against the action of the spring 29, whereby gas y enters the casing 1 through the conduit 13a. The pressure in the casing 1 thus will be rapidly augmented whereby the valve 7, if `-,.,closed as in Fi 1, is again opened and the flame is lighted. When the valve 7 there- --after is again-closed the ratchet wheel 23 :fand the cam disk 25 are turned farther on.

It will be evident that owing to the position 1-:of .the raised arts on the cam disk 25 or lowing to the orm of their surfaces abutting against the pin 26, the valve plate 15 l for each time the valve 7 is opened and shut can be kept open during one, two, or more successive movements of the valve 7, and thereafter be kept closed during a required time while the valve 7 is opened and shut lone, two-or more times successively so that av 55 series of "flashes can be obtained with shorter l31 through the conduits 13 and 32 when or longer intervals of time between the series and with a required number of flashes in each series with shortv intervals between the flashes.

It will be understood that.I am not limited to the structure illustrated, since the inl vention may obviously be embodied in a variety of other constructions.v It will likewise Abe evident, that the controlling device or'valve need not be of the precise nature 75 illustrated and that it need not be inserted inI an extra 'supply conduit 13, butma')7 be inserted with the same result in the supply pipe 13, which in such case is chosen of correspondingly larger area., whereby the 30 controlling device or valve conveniently lopens theI conduit completely each time,

when flashes with short intervals are to be obtained, but throttles the conduit somewhat each time when flashes ywith longer intervals are to be obtained. In other words the valve need not completely close the sup- T e valve plate 15 evidently can be held closed by the camdisk 25 abutting directly 90 or indirectly against the same and be opened by the action of the spring 29. Thecam disk 25 andthe ratchet vwheel 23 can also be made in one piece and be placed horizontally above the valve plate 7 and receive mo- 95 tion by transmission mechanism from thls latter.

Fig. 4 shows .apparatus such as described connected, by means offa branch conduit 32 leading from the extra conduit 13a or from the4 conduitv 13 when the valve 15 is controlling said latter conduit, to a casing 31 which y is closed by a diaphragm 30. The arrangement is such that gas flows intothe casing the valve 15 is closed, said gas flowing over to the casing 1 when the valve 15 is opened. The raised parts of the cam disk 25 are .so placed that the valve 15 lis closed simultaneously with the valve 7. Whennow the valvev 7 is thereafter opened after a suliicient quantity of gas is supplied through the conduit 13 the* valve 15 1s still closed. But the next time the valve 7 is opened the valve 15 is also opened and gas -now enters 115 through the two conduits 13 and 13, as well as from the yeasing 31 with the result that the valve 7 is held open .a` longerI time than when gas enters only through the yconduit 13. In this way it 1s possible to vary the 120 length of the light periods by means of this` arrangement.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is z 1. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing having a chamber, a diaphragm closing said chamber, an outlet valve for controlling the delivery of gas to a burner, a conduit for supplying gasto the chamber, an inlet val"e for controlling the supply conduit andl means operatively connected to said diaphragm and to said valves for operating one of them more rapidly than the other.

2. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing having a chamber, a diaphragm closin said chamber, a gas delivery conduit exten ing from said casing to a burner, an outlet valve for opening and closing said conduit, a. conduit for su plying gas to said chamber, an inlet valve ihr controlling the supply of gas through the supply conduit, operativev connections between the diaphra and one of said valves, and means carrietgrliiy that valve and working against a stationary part of the casing for varying the connectlons between the dlaphragm and the other valve to change the relative operation of the valves.

3.' In light signal apparatus, the combina.- tion of a casing having a chamber,'a diaphragm closing said chamber, a conduit for conducting gas from said chamber to a burner, an outlet valve controlling said conduit, a conduit for supplying gas to the said chamber, an inlet valve controlling said supply conduit, operative connections between said diaphragm and said outlet valve, and operative connections between said diaphragm and said inlet valve whereby the operation of the apparatus is automatically and regularly varied.

4. In light signalapparatus, the combination of a casing havinga chamber, a dlahragm closing said chamber, a gas delivermg conduit extending from said casing to a burner, an outlet valve controlling sai conduit, a conduit for supplying gas to said chamber, an inlet valve for controlling the supply of gas through the supply conduit, o erative connections between said diap ragm and said inlet valve, operative connections between said. diaphragm and said outlet valve, and means controlled by 4the movement of the outlet valve to vary the connections between the diaphragm and the inlet valve.

5. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing havmg a chamber, a diaphragm closing said chamber, a. gas delivery conduit extending from said casing to a burner, an outlet valve for opening and closconduit, a conduit for supplying gas to said chamber, an inlet valve for controlling the supply of gas through the supply c'onduit, operative connections between said diaphragm and said outlet valve, and automatically variable connections between said valves.

G. In light signal apparatus, tion of a casing having achamber, phragm closing said ery conduit extending the combinaa diafrom said casing to chamber, a gas deliv-k `a burner, an outlet valve for opening`and closing said between said dia hragm and outlet valve, a conduit for supp ying gas to said chamber, an inlet valve for, controlling the supply of gas through the supply con uit, and operative vconnections between said diaphragm and said inlet valve comprising an actuating `member constitutinga part of said connection's working against a stationary part of' the casing and carried by said outlet valve to vary said connections.

` 7. In light signal apparatus, the combina.- tion of a valve for controlling the delivery of gas to a burner, a device for controlling the gas supply, means actuated by said valve for causing movement of said device, the said means comprising a rotatable cam disk contacting with the said device, and means operable by the movement of said valve for causing rotation ofvsaid disk.

8. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing having a chamber, a diaphragm closing said casing, a gas delivery4 conduit extending from said casing to a burner, an outlet valve for opening and closing said conduit, a conduit for supplying gas to saidchamber, an inlet valve for controlling the supply of gas through the supply conduit, and means actuated by the outct valve for controlling the action of the inlet valve whereby the supply of gas to the said chamber may be varied.

9. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing for a chamber, a diaphragm closing said casing,l a gas delivery conduit extending from said casing` to a burner, a valve for opening and closing said conduit, a vconduit for supplying gas to said chamber, a device for controlling the supply of gasthrough the said supply conduit, a rotatable shaft carrying means which is adapted to actuate the said device, a ratchet upon the said shaft, a lever fulcrumed at one end adjacent to said valve, the said lever carrying pa-wls which are adapted to engage the said ratchet, whereby movements of the said lever may occasion rotation of the said shaft, and means interposed between the said lever and the said valve whereby movement pf the latter causes movement of the said ever.

10. In light signal apparatus, the colnbination of a casing having a chamber, means for conducting gas from the said chamber to a burner, mechanism for controlling the passage of gas through the said means, a conduit supplying gas to the said chamber, an auxiliary conduit for supplying gas to the said chamber, a valve for controlling the passage of gas through the said auxiliary supply conduit, and a rotatable cam disk acting upon the said valve to open and close the same periodically, and operative connections between said mechanism and cam disk.

conduit, operative connections 11. In light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing having a chamber, a con y ing the said conduit, a coidult for supplying gas to the said chamber, an inlet valve for controlling the passage of gas through the said-conduit, mechanism interposed between the said valves for periodically opening and closing the said'inlet valve,the said mechanism comprising a rotatable member contactingl with the said inlet valve and adapted to hold it open during certain periods of time and to permit it to close during alternate periods of time, a ratchet' operatively connected to the said rotatable member, a

ylever carrying pawls which are adapted to engage the said ratchet and cause rotation of the same, a fulcrum about which the said lever turns, and a pointed pin or bar having 011e end resting upon the first named valve and its opposite end in contact With the said lever, whereby movement of the said valve causes movement of the said lever.

v 12. In'light signal apparatus, the combination of a casing having a chambera diaphragm closing said chamber, a conduit eading from said chamber to al Vburner for delivering gas to said burner, an outlet valve controlling-said conduit, a conduit for supplying gas to said chamber, an inlet valve controlling said conduit, operative connections fbetween said diaphragm and outlet valve, and means for holding the inlet valve in one position during several openings and closings of said'outlet valve and for periodically opening and closing the inlet valve.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of. two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAF DALN. lVitnesses:

VVALDEMAR BoMAN,

A SnERs'rRM. 

